When someone dies, leaving assets in England or Wales, the family will need a Grant of Probate. If the family has already sorted out probate abroad, the obvious hope is that the UK courts will simply stamp, or ‘reseal’, the original overseas document. But can every foreign grant actually be resealed? The answer is no; you cannot simply reseal probate from anywhere in the world. Resealing is a specific legal shortcut, and it only applies to grants issued in a specific list of countries. Our UK Probate Resealing specialists can confirm whether your overseas Grant of Probate is eligible for resealing in England and Wales
The Commonwealth Connection
The rule stems from an old piece of legislation called the Colonial Probates Act. Because of this, resealing is generally restricted to grants issued by courts in Commonwealth countries, former British territories, and a few specific jurisdictions.
If the grant was issued in places like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or various Caribbean nations, you are usually in luck. The Probate Registry can recognise the document, attach their seal, and hand over the legal authority to deal with the UK assets. The official GOV.UK guidance explains which overseas grants may be eligible for resealing and the application process.
What If the Grant Is From Elsewhere?
If the deceased held assets in the UK but the original grant came from a non-qualifying country, like the USA, France, Spain, or China, resealing is off the table entirely. Instead, you have to go through the full UK probate process from scratch. That means applying directly to the Probate Registry for a brand-new grant of representation here. You will need court-certified copies of the original foreign probate, official translations if it isn’t in English, and you’ll still have to clear any UK inheritance tax hurdles before anything gets released. Further information about probate procedures and guides are available from the Probate Forms website.
If resealing isn’t available, our team can guide you through making a full UK probate application from start to finish.
International probate can be complex, but the right guidance makes a significant difference. For expert support, contact UK Probate Reseals on 020 8150 2010.
